From Phil Cook:
" When Myrtle died while undergoing a surgery, Tom was so overwhelmed that he had to be restrained from injuring or possibly killing the Doctor. Tom was never the same without Myrtle. Mildred and Richard raised themselves. After Mildred and Richard left home Tom lived alone in a small house in St. Paul Kansas the remainder of his life. I feel sure the statement can be made that Myrtle Burdett was the love of his life."
1925 KS State Census:
Rom was farming 100 acres. The Land was rented. Myrtle was taking care of Mildred and Richard at home. Crop that year was 300 bushels of wheat, and 750 bushels of corn. He also owned 4 horses, 2 mules, 8 cows and one sow.
23. Melba Pauleen Burdette-233
written by Emmett Melburn Frazer--
"Lived in Commerce, Oklahoma where Glen taught High School Chemistry for one year. The following year they moved to Tishomingo, OK and stayed for 12 years, while glen taught at Murray State School of Agriculture. While in Tishomingo they had three children. While in Tishomingo there were many times that some of the Burdette Clan would get together. Claire Chiles, Ann Moore's daughter, just lived 30 miles from Tulsa with Floyd and Lula and their children. A big meal would be served and the kids would play outside while the adults did their thing.
"In 1942 they moved to Tulsa for one year living at 1135 S. Norfolk, while Glen worked at the Oklahoma Ordinance Plant, near Pryor and Choteau. In 1943 they moved to Pryor for two years. During this time Melba also worked at the Plant for a short period.
"At the end of World War 2 in 1945 the Plant closed down and Glen returned to teaching in the McCalister High School for one year, at which time he returned to college teaching at Panhandle A & M College, in Goodwell, OK. While in Goodwell for two years, Melba worked in the College Food-Prep area. Undoubtedly the best cafeteria west of the Mississippi.
"In the summer of 1948, the President of Iowa Weslyan College was in town and asked Glen to return and teach Chemistry, as he said Glen's father was in poor health. So Glen signed a contract and the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Blen taught at Weslyan for 1 1/2 years and resigned to work at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant as a Chemist, during the Korean Conflict. Melba also worked at the Plant. Prior to that she opened the first Student Union that Weslyan College had. It was located in an old Army Barracks building moved in and attached to the college gym.
"In 1958 Melba and Glen moved to Danville, Iowa to be closer to his work. In 1967, Glen retired from the Plant and returned to teaching at the Burlington JR College. The next year they lived in Keokuk, while he taught at the Keokuk JR College and the in 1969 they moved to Donnelso to teach at Central Lee. Glen retired in 1970 at the age of 65 and they bought a home in Mt. Pleasant.
"In October of 1978, after 49 years, 6 weeks and 6 days of Marriage, Melba suffered her third heart attack, while visiting the home of their daughter, Elizabeth and family, in Romeoville, Illinois and passed away. She is buried in Forest Home Cem., Mt. Pleasant. Glen lived until Dec. 1 1983, when at the age of 78, he passed away and is buried next to Melba.
"Their son Martin graduated from High school in 1949, in Mt. Pleasant. He also worked at the Plant, and later served in the Korean Conflict, in the Tokyo General Hospital. After serving his tour duty, he attended Iowa Weslyan and completed three years of schooling. He married Ella Francis Cathy Wheelock and they had three children. Martin, Jr., Christopher and Lisabeth. Ella Francis had a daughter, Susan, prior to their marriage. Ella Francis died in 1965 and in 1966 Martin married Minnie Ann Oberman Friedman. She had three kids and they adopted the others children. In 1969 they moved to Farmington, NM and worked on the Navajo Indian Mission. While there they adopted a little Indian girl, Jennifer. This made one big happy family of yours, mine and ours. Martin's father also referred to this marriage as a MERGER, with 6 children and an age spread of only five years.
"After being in Farmington for a couple years they moved to Scottsdale, AZ., and Martin remained in the Church work. Today he is the Pastor of a small church in New River, AZ. Just about 20 miles north of Phoenix."
dates verified with Missouri death certificate
